Hoosier Park: Indiana Sires Stakes eliminations go to Rockin Speed, Always A Prince

A pair of $20,000 Indiana Sires Stakes eliminations for sophomore pacing colts headlined the Friday night program at Hoosier Park, with Rockin Speed and Always A Prince toting home victories.

The first elimination saw Just N Ace (Todd Warren) reach the opening quarter in 26 4/5, but race favorite Gd Western Joe (John De Long) popped the pocket to take control past that point, and he would go on to hit the half in 54 4/5 and the three-quarters in 1:22 3/5. Gd Western Joe couldn't polish the win off, though, as Rockin Speed (Sam Widger), who pulled first-up from third going to three-quarters, utilized a 27-second final quarter to get up in the lane and win by three-parts of a length in 1:50 2/5. Just N Ace got back up for the second spot, with Gd Western Joe backing up to third.

Rockin Speed is a Rockin Image gelding trained by Joe Seekman for owner L&L Devisser LLC. This was his sixth career win, and he has now earned $70,401. He was a 10-1 offering and paid $23.60 to win.

In the other elimination Shnitzledosomethin (Peter Wrenn) clicked off the first quarter in 27 2/5, but Always A Prince (Trace Tetrick) drove out of fourth and took control passing the 54 4/5 half. Always A Prince wasn't threatened from there, leading through three-quarters in 1:23 and reaching the wire in 1:49 4/5. He downed Shnitzledosomethin by three lengths, with Jims Perfect Ten (Widger) third.

Tyler George trains Always A Prince, an Always A Virgin gelding, for owners Carl and Melanie Atley. Always A Prince, who was unraced as a 2-year-old, has a record of 12-1-0 from 15 attempts this year, and he has banked $150,000. He was the 1-9 choice and returned $2.10 across the board.